Banana

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Revision as of 15:55, 6 November 2007 by imported>Aleta Curry (first article for November write-a-thon. We have some bananas todaaaaay!!)
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Bananas are the fruit of a wide range of species in the Musa taxonomic genus.[1] Originally from Southeast Asia and Australia, they have become so intrinsic to the diets of Africans and South Americans that many people from those continents (and many elsewhere) mistakenly believe them to be native. The overwhelming majority of bananas are shades of yellow when ripe, but there are also red, pink and purple species.

Bananas in cuisine

Besides being eaten all over the world as a wholesome snack at any time of day, bananas lend themselves well to cooking. Some varieties are used as main courses and side dishes, many more are the chief ingredients in snacks and desserts including a wide array of puddings and cakes. See banana/catalogs/list of banana desserts

Green bananas

Although all unripe bananas are green in colour, the term “green banana” usually refers to species of musa which are edible, but due to a lack of customary banana texture and sweetness are used for cooking rather than being eaten fresh. In southern Uganda, a variety called matoke was so widely used that it is now recognised and eaten all over the country.

  1. The naming of species in the genus Musa, family Musaceae, is a complex business. See more, including the taxonomic history, at Musa.